William block



(No Model.)

W. BLOCK.

PIRE ESCAPE. No. 388,613. Patented May'ZQ, 1888.

ATTH/VEY,

N. PETERS. Plum-Limogmpner. wnshingmn. D. C.

UNITED STATES l ATENT ENCE@ IVILLIAM BLOCK, OF SI. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA.

FIREESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,613, dated May 29, 1888.

Application filed April i, 1888.

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BLOCK, of St. Petersburg", Russia, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

rIhis invention relates to that class of portable flexible tire-escapes which are adapted to be attached to a window-sill or other support on a building and extended to the ground, thereby affording a means for persons in the building to descend to the ground.

The invention has for its object to provide a light, strong, and durable tire-escape of this kind, which may be easily and securely attached in position for use.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe invention in an eXtended position. Fig. 2 is a front view, partly broken away, of a modification in an extended position. Fig. 3 is a side view of the attaching device, showing one method of attaching the same. Fig. 4. is a front View thereof, showing another method of attaching it. Fig. 5 is a detail view in section and broken away,showing the method of attaching the rounds to the ropes. Fig. 6 is a detail view in section and broken away, showing the method of attaching the middle of the rounds of the modification; and Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the same.

In the construction of portable flexible reescapes it is necessary that the fire-escape should be light, so as to be easily handled, and should take up as little room as possible, and also strong, so as to bear the weight of a number of persons on it at the same time. It is also necessary that the means for attaching'it should be s uch as to enable the {ire-escape to be easily and securely fastened to any windowsill or other support.

Vith these objects in view I have devised a ire-escape formed with the ropes 1, preferably of steel Wire, on account of strength and to avoid decay, secured to the rounds 2 in any suitable manner.

The rounds 2 may be of any desirable shape and material, but are preferably made of metal pipe, on account of lightness and strength. YThe wire ropes 1 pass through holes adjacent Serial No. 269,251. (No model.)

to the ends of the rounds 2, and the latter are held in place lthereon by the following means: A plug, 3, of wood or other suitable material, is inserted in each end of each round 2, so as to form sockets in the ends of the rounds, through which the rope 1 passes. The ropes 1 having been passed through the rounds 2 and the latter arranged at suitable intervals apart, pins 4 are passed through the ropes 1 within the ends of the rounds 2 and molten solder, 5, is poured into the sockets formed by the plugs 3, filling the sockets to the ends of the round. The pins 4, being embedded in the hardened solder, 5, hold the ropes 1, so as to prevent the rounds 2 from slipping thereon.

rIhe upper ends of the ropes 1 are provided with a suitable device for attaching the tire-l escape to a window-sill or other suitable support, the attaching device being of such a shape as to be adapted to sills or other supports of different thicknesses. As here shown, Irhave provided an attaching device consisting of rods bent to form a horizontal portion, 6, and a portion, 7, extending at right angles to the portion 6, and formed at their ends with hooks 8. The horizontal portions y6 are connected by a crossbar, 9, through which passes a clampingscrew, l0. The ropes are connected to the attaching device in any suitable manner, and, as here shown, by eyes 11,which are formed with spurs 12, adapted to press into the wood-Work ofthe support.

By means of an attaching device constructed in this form it may be engaged with a narrow support, as 13 in Fig. 3, or with a broad support, as 14 in Fig. 4, in the first instance the horizontal portions 6 being in vertical position, and in the second instance extending across the top of the window-sill or other support. In either case the attaching device is securely fastened by means of hooks 8, press ing against one side of the support, and the set-screws 10,screwed up in tightened position opposite to the hooks 8., The spurs 12 are also pressed into the wood and afford additional hold for the attaching device.

The lower ends of the ropes 1 are iirmly secured to rollers l5, having secured thereto disks 16, which serve as ilanges to hold the ropes in place rolled up on the rollers 15. The latter are mounted on the ends of a bar, 17, which may be of metal pipe in orderto renderit IOO light and strong". When the tire-escape is not in use the ropes 1, with their rounds 2, may be wound up on rollers 15, the ropes andthe ends position.

of the rounds lying against the disks 16, and the rounds extending across from one side'to the other parallel with the bar 17 Ihe whole affords, when wound up in this position, a comparatively light and compact package, which can be stored awayin any convenient location without taking up much room.

When desired for use, it is carried to a Window, and the attaching device is easily and quickly secured in place by engaging the hooks 8 with the projection of the windowsill and adj nstin g the setscrew l0 in tightened The frame, consisting of the rollers 15 and connectingbar 17, is then dropped from the window, which will rapidly cause the ladder, consisting of the ropes land rounds 2, to be unwound therefrom until it reaches the ground.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the escape is, in its general features, similar to that already described in connection with Fig. 1, excepting that two ladders are provided instead of one, by means of making the rounds 2 longer and forming the attaching device with a central rod, 6, in addition to the side rods connected by the cross-bar 9, the central rod, 6, being formed similarly to the rods dcscribed in Fig. 1. The rod 17, connecting the rollers 15, is also formed with a central roller, 15, to which is secured the end of a third rope similar to the ropes 1. The third or central ropeis connected to the rounds2 in a somewhat different manner from that shown in Fig. 1, as follows:

l Wooden plugs 20 are inserted in the rounds 2 and located therein on each side of an opening, 21, formed in the side of the rounds, through which is inserted a pin, 4, passed through the rope 1. The molten solder is then poured through the opening 21, filling the spaces formed by the plugs 20, and upon hardening firmly holding the pin 4 embedded therein in a xed position.

By means of a lire-escape constructed according to the modification shown in Fig. 2 a strong and light device is provided practically comprising two ladders, allowing a greater number of persons to descend at once than on the single ladder shown in Fig. 1. The moditied device is employed similarly to that shown and described in Fig. 1.

By means of my invention I have provided a tire-escape which may be quickly and securely attached in position tov any form of support, and which will be light, strong, and durable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A portable fire-escape consisting of an attachable frame to engage a window-sill or other support, a iiexible ladder having one end attached thereto, and -a frame to which the other end of the ladder is secured and upon which it-is adapted to Vbe woundformed of a rod having rollers, and disks at its ends of greater diameter than the rollers, substantially as described.

2. In a portable tire-escape, a frame upon which a flexible ladder may be wound, consisting ofa rod having rollers,and disks at its ends of greater diameter than the rollers, substantially as described.

3. In a'portable tire-escape, a flexible lad der consisting of ropes and hollow rounds, the ropes being secured to the rounds by passing through them, and havinga projection within the round, the projection and rope within the round being embeddedin solder, substantially as described.

4. In a portable tire-escape, a flexible ladder consisting of ropes 1 and hollow rounds 2, through which the ropes 1 pass adjacent to their outer ends, theends of the rounds2 having a plug, 3, inserted therein, and the cavity formed thereby filled with solder inclosing the rope 1, and a pin, 4, projecting through it, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a portable fire-escape, the jointfor securing hollow rounds to flexible ropes, consisting of a hollow round, 2, a rope, 1, passing through the round, an opening, 21, in the side of the round, a plug, 20, in round 2, on either side of the opening 21, a pin, 4, projecting through the rope 1, and solder, 5, inclosing the pin 4 and rope 1 within the round, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a portable tire-escape, an attachablc frame to engage a window-sill or other support, consisting of rods formed with the vertical portions 6, having eyes 11, with spurs 12, and connected by crossbar 9, having clamping-screw 10, and the horizontal portions 7,

with hooked ends 8, substantially as shownand described.

7. In a portable fire-escape, a flexible lad der consisting ot' wire ropes 1 and hollow rounds 2, the ropes passing through the rounds, and the central rope being connected to the rounds 2, having opening 21, by solder,5, tilling the round 2 between plugs 20 therein, and inclosing the rope 1, and a pin, 4, projecting through the rope 1, and the side ropes connected to the rounds 2 by solder, 5, filling a cavity formed in the end of the round by a plug, 3, and inclosing the rope 1, and a pin, 4, projecting through it, substantially as shown and described. 8. In a portable ireAescape, a frame upon which a flexible ladder may be wound, consisting of hollow rod 17, rollers 15, mounted thereon, and disks 16 on the ends of the rod 17 of greater diameter than the rollers 15, substantially as shown and described.

9. A portable fire-escape consisting of an attachable frame to engage a window-sill or other support,formed ot' rods with vertical portions 6, having eyes 11 and spurs 12, and connected by cross-bar 9, having clamping-screw 10, and horizontal portions 7 ,with hooked ends 8, in combination with a flexible ladder formed IOO IIO

of Wire ropes 1, connected to eyes 11, und hollow metallic rounds 2, through which the ropes pass at their center and adjacent to their ends, and fastened thereto at the center 5 of the rounds by a pin, 4, projecting through the rope and embedded in solder, 5, filling the round between plugs20 and opposite en opening, 21, in the round, and at the ends of the rounds by a. pin, 4, projecting through rope l 1o and embedded in solder, 5, filling,` the cavity in the end of the round formed by an inserted 

